Pope Leo XIV kicks off first foreign trip with historic visit to Turkey
Pope Leo XIV arrives in Turkey for his first overseas apostolic journey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, emphasizing Christian unity.
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WISE NEWS PRESS / IZNIK, Turkey — Nov. 25, 2025
Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, has embarked on his first foreign apostolic journey since assuming office in May, traveling to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a foundational event in Christian history.
The historic visit centers on a ceremony in the district of Iznik (ancient Nicaea) in the province of Bursa. On Nov. 27, the Pontiff will join Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and other Christian leaders in the very city where the core tenets of the Christian faith were codified in 325 AD.
Itinerary: From Ankara to the shores of Nicaea
Pope Leo XIV, who is the fifth pontiff to visit Turkey, will also conduct official state meetings in his capacity as the Head of State of the Vatican. His schedule includes:
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Nov. 27: A meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital, Ankara.
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Nov. 28: A gathering with clergy at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Saint Esprit) in Istanbul, followed by travel to Iznik for the main commemoration.
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Nov. 29: A Holy Mass at a venue in Istanbul with a capacity of 6,000 attendees.
Following his engagements in Turkey, the Pope is scheduled to depart for Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 30. The trip, originally planned by his predecessor Pope Francis before his passing in April, is being carried forward by Leo XIV with a specific focus on "healing the wounds of division" among Christians.
The significance of the Council of Nicaea
Convened in 325 AD by Roman Emperor Constantine I, the First Council of Nicaea is considered a turning point in history. It was here that the "Nicene Creed," the profession of faith widely used in Christian liturgy, was established, and the divinity of Christ was affirmed against early heresies.
Historian Turhan Kaçar notes that this council effectively transformed religion into a "state apparatus." For modern religious leaders, however, it represents a moment of unity before the great schisms.
Metropolitan Maximos Vgenopoulos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate describes Iznik as a sacred center of pilgrimage. "The belief expressed here offers a model of coexistence with our neighbors regardless of race or color, a model that modern civilization desperately needs," he said.
Commemoration near the submerged basilica
The solemn ceremony attended by the Pope will take place near the ruins of the Basilica of St. Neophytos, which were discovered in 2014 after water levels in Lake Iznik receded.
Professor Mustafa Şahin, who leads the excavation work at the site, suggests that while the exact location of the original council remains a subject of historical debate, strong hypotheses point to this area. Although the imperial palace where the council likely met has not yet been unearthed, the shores of Lake Iznik are set to witness a historic reunion of East and West 1,700 years later.
